New - Harrogate's tent 'village' is gone

After weeks of controversy online and in the print edition of the Harrogate Advertiser, the street beggars tents have disappeared from Oxford Street.

Readers in Harrogate have been divided over the growth of visible street begging in the town’s shop doorways and alleyways.

The situation has led to a new message from the bodies which provide support for those sleeping rough such as Harrogate Borough Council, Harrogate Homeless Project and North Yorkshire Horizons (drug and alcohol recovery service) is not to give cash directly to street beggars.
Instead, the advice is to give cash to the charities who help the town’s homeless on a daily basis.

A major supporter of the new approach on street begging is Harrogate Homeless Project, which runs a 16-bed hostel for adults and also a five-bed emergency bed scheme, where overnight shelter and support is provided.

As public concern has risen, it has been keen to stress that persuading some people to seek help is not always easy.
For those who are not willing to access emergency shelter, HHP also offers sleeping bags and warm clothing as well as warm snacks and drinks overnight from its hostel on Bower Street.

Some readers had asked the Harrogate Advertiser why the police have not moved them on legally, as the council does when caravans arrive on the Stray.

In the case of the latter, Harrogate Borough Council can move them on in five working days by getting a court order.

A national Primark spokesperson said: “We are in contact with the local police in Harrogate in relation to this matter.”

But the issue may be academic now. Because there are no longer tents at the back of Primark.

Whether this is a permanent state of affairs is another matter.

Any members of the public wishing to help anyone they believe may be sleeping rough, they are advised to let them know that help is available from Harrogate Homeless Project, or call the HHP’s 24-hour staff team on 01423 566900 for help.